Hat-shape brace.



H. SCHLEINKOFER.

HAT SHAPE BRACEK APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4. 1917.

1,262,852. Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

ll'h. f

' carton HENRY SGHLEDTKOFER, CLEVELAND, QHIQ.

HAT-SHAPE BBACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 191%.

Application filed June 4, 1917. Serial No. 172,881.

FER, a native-born citizen of the United States, residing at 1646 East38th street, in the city of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State ofOhio, have invented a Hat- Shape Brace.

My invention relates to improvements in hat shape braces. The object ofthis invention is to provide a simple, inexpenslve and durable means ofrigidly holding and pre-' venting a hat from caving inward toward thecenter either at the front or back portions of the crown. In order toaccomplish the foregoing I provide a brace so designed that it will slipbetween the hat band and the crown of the hat. The brace is shaped toconform to the natural formation of the hat.

Myinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows the brace or support.

Fig. 2 shows the brace or support inserted in a hat.

Referring to Fig. 1, the brace or support A can be made of card-board,rubber, linen,

celluloid or any pliable material. The ma-' terial must be pliableenough so that it may be curved to fit the shape ofthe hat and ispreferably made of thin material so as not to inconvenience the wearer.

As shown, the brace A has the upper'portion curved so 'as to form twoprojections 3 and 4 and a recess 2, while the lower portion, as shown at4 is straight and arranged to slip between the hat band and the hatproper.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that a brace A is inserted at both.the front and forward portions of the hat. shown, the type hat used isof soft material provided with a recess 7 which conforms to the recess 2of the brace, while the raised portions 5 and 6 of the hat conformto theraised portions 3 and 4 of the brace. When the braces are inserted inthe hat, as shown in Fig. 2, the outer surface bears against he innersurface of the hat and prevents it from becom ng creasedor bent, whilethe upper edge retalns the form of the crease or indentation.

While I have shown a particular type hat and a support arranged to beused therewith, it naturally follows that braces can be formed tosupport any type of hat regardless of its shape.

I claim- 1. A device of the class described comprising a single fiatpiece of pliable material arranged to be inserted in the sweat band of ahat for holding the hat in shape.

2. A device. of the class described comprising a single flat piece ofpliable material arranged to be inserted in the sweat band at eitherendof a hat, said piece of material designed to conform to the shape ofthe hat.

3. A hat brace comprising a single piece of pliable material arranged tobe inserted in the sweat band at either end of the hat; said piece ofmaterial being designed to conform to and to retain the shape of thehat. 4. A hat brace comprising a single piece of pliable materialarranged to be inserted in the sweat band at either end of the hat; saidpiece ofmaterial, when so inserted, having one of its flat surfacesengaging the inner surface of the hat and its upper edge designed toconform with and engage the crown of the hat for retaining its shape.

